1148 (Penarth) Squadron Air Training Corps (ATC) has been pushing the organisation to new heights with their recent achievements.

Cadet Sergeant Alan Reji, an enthusiastic flyer, recently completed the highly prized Air Cadet Pilot Scheme (ACPS). The Pilot Scheme aims to encourage young people aged 16+ who have ambitions to pursue a career in aviation. Cadets are expected to demonstrate their flying ability and skills at an assessment day at RAF St Athan to qualify for the course.

Sergeant Reji, who hopes to forge a path to becoming an airline pilot when he leaves school, spoke of the demanding schedule and the confirmation that this would help him to work towards his dream career.

He said: “I joined the Air Training Corps in 2013 because I wanted to pursue a career as an airline pilot. ACPS was that big confirmation which said that piloting is definitely the route I want to take. That feeling of lining up on the centreline of the runway and looking out starts the adrenaline rush going on every flight I had up there.

“ACPS to me was the pinnacle of my time in Cadets so far. By going on ACPS, it will help me within the squadron as I was able to get hands on experience of the theory we learn in airmanship lessons.”

He added: “Coming in over the 500ft point, and calling finals over the radio confirms that the hardest part of the flight is yet to come. And as soon as the wheels touch down and I start slowing the aircraft down enough to vacate the next taxiway, that's when I feel the sense of achievement.”

Over 300 primary school pupils were joined by a team of RAF personnel at the National Museum in Cardiff who helped them to build rocket cars, try computer coding, make a parachute to safely land an egg and take part in a hot air balloon challenge.